Chapter 249: A Small Stage Hosts a Grand Opera

249. Chapter 249: A Small Stage Hosts a Grand Opera

Ru Nan was actually clad in meticulously crafted scale armor, which even seemed to bear gold ornamentation, looking extraordinarily majestic. Anyone familiar with Buddhist temples would recognize this as the attire of a Dharma Protector Vajra; it was unexpected to see it worn on a real person. Beside him, Ru Ning was dressed similarly.

"This little thief is extremely vicious and cunning. I was also careless. When we surrounded the camp earlier, we were caught off guard and lost over twenty brothers. I truly don't know how I'll explain this to my family's Ninth Master when I return." Liu Cheng spoke very frankly.

Ru Nan and Ru Ning exchanged a glance. Both were well-versed in the ways of the world; how could they not understand Liu Cheng's meaning? Liu Cheng seemed to be exposing his own shortcomings, but in reality, he was saying his losses were heavy, so he would not be taking the main offensive later.

"Almsgiver Liu has worked hard. This temple will remember Ninth Master's goodwill. Next, we ask Almsgiver Liu to provide support and ensure this little thief does not lead his men in a breakout." Ru Nan said in a deep voice.

"Please rest assured, Master Ru Nan. I will not let a single one of that little thief's men escape." Liu Cheng hastily replied. He left two of his subordinates to relay messages and went back himself to assemble his mounted troop.

As soon as Liu Cheng left, his two men also stood far away. Ru Ning snorted coldly and said, "Kong Laojiu certainly has a fine scheme, sending just this one troop to take sixty percent of He Family Village and a thirty percent stake in the distillery business."

"How much we give him is still up to us. Taking the distillery will be the temple's foundation for generations to come. Besides, without their cavalry troop, that little thief's men wouldn't be pinned down in this village." Ru Nan spoke very frankly.

Ru Ning looked left and right. The several tall, burly monk-soldier leaders beside him tactfully withdrew to one side. Lowering his voice, Ru Ning said, "Old Xue is already preparing for Little Xue to shave his head and become a monk. Are you willing to fight and die to take this distillery, only to let their father and son enjoy it for generations?"

A cold sneer appeared on Ru Nan's face. He replied in an equally low voice, "Take the village, get the money, then we can firmly grasp the monk-soldiers in our hands. Otherwise, everything is just an illusion."

After saying this, Ru Nan raised his voice and shouted, "The Dangshan Lower Temple and Xiao County Lower Temple, go into the village and tear down the door planks! Tear down every single door plank! Tell them every household must send out one able-bodied man. No fooling with women, no looting. The Lord Buddha's precept blade in my hand is not for show!"

The words themselves were quite contradictory, but the monk-soldiers shouted their obedience. Immediately, two squads began to move. Ru Nan shouted again, "Feng County Lower Temple, your men go cut down trees! If there are no trees, tear down houses for their beams! No need to hold up torches anymore; light bonfires everywhere and bring over some firewood!"

Orders rang out in succession, and the squads below all began to move. He Family Village, silent for so long, erupted into clamor once more.

It was already spring in early March in Xuzhou, but the nights were not so warm. Having their door planks torn down would certainly make the household uncomfortable, but this discomfort was nothing compared to sending out a man. Just moments ago, there had been shouting, neighing, and loud screams. Even if the village residents hadn't seen it, they had heard it. No one would be willing to send their own men to their deaths.

Yet Cloud Mountain Temple had brought over a thousand monk-soldiers. Even if the villagers of He Family Village united, they would be no match. They could only weep and wail as they watched their men being taken away. For those families whose belongings were pilfered or whose womenfolk were taken advantage of, these were no longer the main concern.

But it wasn't easy everywhere. The inns and cart-driver lodges near the mule and horse market had the most able-bodied men, but these men were not to be trifled with either. As soon as the monk-soldiers arrived, those cattle and horse merchants rallied all their men, over two hundred fellows armed with blades and spears.

"We keep to our own business. We can give a little money if asked, but if you push your luck, then we'll fight it out!" The cattle and horse merchants of the mule market were also figures of the Jianghu, capable of leveraging connections with powerful families. The monk-soldiers probed here but retreated before even making a move. Ru Nan called the men back; since they were staying neutral, there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.

"... He really is an old hand..." Zhao Jin muttered to himself in a low voice. The mounted troop began circling around the He Family compound while the monk-soldiers went about their own actions.

He Family Village was already in utter chaos, a cacophony of weeping, shouting, and cursing. The monk-soldiers moved in and out. Although the foot drill formations of each squad were not as orderly as the Zhao Family Camp's household troops, they still maintained their formation. This made Zhao Jin take them even more seriously; if nothing else, his own new recruit squad was completely outmatched.

The enemy cavalry troop's riders would occasionally charge close, then wheel around and gallop away. Some men on Zhao Jin's side, unable to hold their nerve, loosed a few arrows, but all missed. Zhao Jin simply issued a strict order: no drawing of bows until the enemy was within forty paces.

The weeping and shouting in the village subsided slightly. Squads of men carrying door planks were herded into the open ground, along with others carrying roof beams and tree trunks. The monk-soldiers also began regrouping. Several large bonfires were lit in the open area, with men occasionally adding firewood to keep the flames high.

The assault was about to begin. Zhao Jin turned and descended the wooden platform, speaking out, "Don armor and form ranks!"

Until now, the men in the courtyard had been resting at ease, awaiting orders. But the sounds coming from outside made it impossible for anyone to relax. Upon hearing Zhao Jin's command, they finally knew what to do.

"Boil water! Use everything that can hold water. Start boiling now, and pile it all onto the platform in front!" Zhao Jin ordered.

The kitchen fires had never been extinguished. As soon as this order was given, another group of people began bustling about.

"When will it be dawn?" someone called out. The new recruit squad had barely been trained; there was no discipline to speak of.

Anyone with half a brain knew that in broad daylight, no one would dare to wage war so brazenly. Moreover, once it was light, there would surely be some reaction from within Xuzhou city.

But the sun had not yet set when the mounted troop launched their surprise attack, and it had not been dark for long when the monk-soldiers arrived. This night was destined to be very long...

By now, the open ground was already somewhat crowded, filled with an unending din of curses and wails. The front ranks could be seen in utter disarray, as if two men were holding up a single door plank, with others behind them carrying bamboo baskets and hampers.

Suddenly, a shrill, miserable scream rang out, as if someone had been slashed by a blade. It was unknown if they were dead or alive. But after that scream, the weeping, shouting, and cursing lessened considerably. Another loud shout rang out, and those holding the door planks began to run forward.

"... This humble one lives right in the village..."

"... This humble one still has family at home..."

Before they even got close, such shouts and cries, tinged with sobs and utterly wretched, could already be heard.

"Master Jin, what do we do?" "Big Brother, what do we do?"

The archers on the wooden platform shouted out their questions one after another. After all, the Zhao Family Camp intended to put down roots in He Family Village; shooting the villagers would surely invite trouble and resentment.

"If they break through, you'll all die! And you're still fucking asking me what to do? Shoot down anyone who gets close!" Zhao Jin roared in anger. Young men were indeed simple and sincere, but on some matters, they could be overly simplistic.

When their own lives were at stake, it was easy to make a choice, regardless of whether the targets were unarmed or local villagers. The archers drew their bows one after another.

Dong Bingfeng also stood there, staring intently ahead. Skilled in archery and horsemanship, and free from night blindness or farsightedness, he was to shoot the first arrow.

Those village men carrying door planks were actually quite troublesome, because they instinctively shielded themselves with the planks, leaving very little exposed to be hit by arrows.

Only by letting them get close could there be accuracy. Dong Bingfeng took a deep breath and slowly drew his bow. After steadying himself for a moment, using the light from inside and outside the courtyard, he aimed at one of the men. That man used his door plank to protect his upper body, but his lower body was exposed.

Forty paces!

With a 'thwip', the arrow left the string and shot forth. A scream was heard as a man dropped directly to his knees. The one sharing the door plank with him immediately hid his entire body behind it, not daring to advance another step. Those behind the door planks carrying bamboo baskets and hampers also immediately threw themselves to the ground, not daring to move.

The sound of arrows tearing through the air rang out continuously, followed by a series of clinks and clanks, and a succession of miserable screams. More than half the arrows thudded into the door planks, but quite a few of the village men holding them were also struck.

When the first man was hit, the others didn't react. But as more were struck, the agonized screams made it clear who they were; the wounded were right beside them. These coerced village men panicked. They had assumed that since everyone lived in He Family Village, Zhao Jin and his men would show some consideration. They hadn't expected such ruthlessness.

To advance meant death or injury; who still had the nerve? Many threw down what they were carrying and fled to either side. Once they ran, the archers naturally couldn't be bothered with them. As if contagious, everyone began dropping their loads and scattering in chaos, seemingly on the verge of completely dispersing.

The archers on Zhao Jin's side all breathed a sigh of relief. But just as they were halfway through that sigh, they heard the even denser sound of arrows tearing through the air. Everyone froze instinctively; neither they nor their comrades had loosed any arrows. Where was that sound coming from?

It came from the opposite side! The archers on the wooden platform and watchtower reacted immediately, hastily ducking back behind the wall and cover. A few who reacted faster even shouted out a warning, "Incoming arrows from outside!"

The various squads of the Zhao Family Camp inside the He Family compound were already hidden behind cover. Hearing this warning, they merely hunched down a little more. But no arrows came whistling in; the screams from outside grew even more intense.

"Fill the trench! Fill the trench! Even if you die, your entire family will be wiped out!" Loud voices shouted from all around.

The arrows shot from Zhao Family Camp's side at least had door planks for cover, but those shot from the monk-soldiers behind them had none. Moreover, the outside monk-soldiers and mounted troop had completely encircled the area; there was simply no escape. If the arrows didn't kill them, they'd be driven back by blades and spears if they ran that way.

"Damn, those bald donkeys have at least fifty bows. Are they trying to rebel?" An old cavalryman on the wooden platform cursed. From that volley of arrows, an experienced man could discern a great deal.

"The enemy archers haven't advanced yet, keep shooting!" Dong Bingfeng shouted loudly from the watchtower, loosing arrows even as he yelled.

The bright firelight made it possible to see the situation clearly. The sound of arrows tearing through the air rang out densely, all aimed at the village men coming to fill the trench. One side was trying to stop them, the other was forcing them forward.

After all, the door planks offered some defense. Two men crouched behind a door plank, inching forward bit by bit. Those behind were practically crawling, dragging their loads. With the area brightly lit both inside and outside the courtyard, both sides could see clearly. A few who dropped their bamboo baskets and were empty-handed were shot down by the men behind them.

The monk-soldiers had forced nearly three hundred men from He Family Village. The trench dug around the He Family compound, limited by manpower and time, was neither wide nor deep. Those filling the trench didn't bother pouring things out neatly; they just tossed the bamboo baskets and everything else straight in. But even so, the trench was quickly filled.

Moreover, once these men actually reached the edge of the trench, the archers on the wooden platform and watchtower inside the courtyard wall found it harder to hit them due to the angle. They hesitated at first, and after the enemy finished filling it, they felt it unnecessary to shoot. Just like that, in that moment of hesitation, most of the first wave's bamboo baskets had already been thrown into the trench. Not only was it filled level, some spots were even piled higher, with many door planks tossed directly on top.

"You motherless curs, everyone be doubly careful! Among those bald donkeys, there's definitely someone who served as an officer in the army, maybe even a Battalion Commander or Company Commander." An old cavalryman on the wooden platform shouted at the top of his lungs. This wasn't just venting; it was a warning.

"This is the tactic of driving civilians to fill trenches during a siege. Someone who hasn't seen large-scale action or experienced major warfare couldn't possibly know it." Dong Bingfeng was intently focused on the scene below when he heard Zhao Jin speaking beside him. He didn't know when Zhao Jin had climbed back up onto the watchtower.

Dong Bingfeng looked into the distance. Those village men who had fled back did not simply disperse; instead, they were refilling their earth baskets. The wails, shouts, and curses grew loud again, even mixed with a few shrill, miserable screams. Under the threat of death, they were once again being driven toward this side.

"Cloud Mountain Temple's ambitions are not small, to actually keep a man like that in their employ." Dong Bingfeng added.

Having lived through great battles and seen grand spectacles, he truly wasn't impressed by such things now. The pacification of Pubei in Ningxia, the campaign against the Japanese in Korea, the suppression of the Yang family in Bozhou — it hadn't even been twenty years since those three great campaigns ended. In those battles, scenes of field combat and siege assaults were common enough, not to mention that the Nine Borders had been fighting on and off the entire time. It really wasn't strange at all for experienced soldiers and officers to drift into Xuzhou.

What was truly astonishing was the ambition — that Cloud Mountain Temple was harboring military officers versed in the art of war, and holding so many men and so much land.

The tenants filling the trench in the second wave were noticeably more experienced. Nearly all of them crouched low and shuffled forward, and those carrying dirt baskets huddled as small as they could behind the door planks. Up in the watchtower, Dong Bingfeng had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow, but after adjusting his angle several times, he still felt he was unlikely to hit his mark.

If even Dong Bingfeng, with his superb archery, couldn't manage it, it was all the harder for the others. The veteran cavalrymen simply waited, holding out for a better opportunity and angle. The rest lacked the patience, and the arrows they loosed either missed or were blocked by the door planks. The occasional hit struck no vital spot, and aside from pained cries, it accomplished nothing.

Zhao Jin watched with a furrowed brow for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Stop shooting. Let them fill it."

"Let them fill it?" Dong Bingfeng thought he'd misheard. He turned his head to stare at Zhao Jin in shock. Everyone else on the wooden platform inside the wall turned as well.

"We can't shoot them all dead. Round after round like this, that useless trench will get filled in just the same. And even if we did shoot every last one of them, we'd only be wasting our own arrows. Not worth it."

"Big Brother, once these people fill the trench flat, odds are they'll be driven forward to attack."

"When that time comes, we'll just cut them down with blade and spear. If this lot wants to grind us down, we'll keep them company. It's not us who's afraid of daybreak." Zhao Jin spoke through gritted teeth. As he said this, he wiped his hand on his armor, drying the sweat from his palm.

They filled another round, trembling with fear. Finding no arrows to hinder them, the able-bodied men of the He Estate immediately picked up speed, and the trench was soon filled flat. In truth, it had already been nearly filled by the third round — not much different from Zhao Jin's assessment. Before these several hundred men could be completely shot dead, the trench would be filled. Shooting arrows was just wasting them for nothing.

Much as Zhao Jin had expected, once the trench was filled, the enemy did not drive the tenant men forward in a charge. Instead, they began to re-form their ranks.

"South side! South side! Someone's climbed onto the roof!" someone inside the courtyard suddenly shouted.

This was where the bright lamplight proved its worth. Though it meant they couldn't hide, the enemy couldn't hide either. From the watchtower, Zhao Jin could clearly see that across the street to the south, over a dozen men had already appeared on the rooftops, bows drawn and arrows nocked.

The barricades made of bed frames, bed planks, and door planks were easy to adjust, and they had been set up precisely to guard against arrows from the rooftops on the south, north, and west sides. Yet even so, the squads in the courtyard still scrambled in disarray. Over a dozen arrows shrieked in, and two unlucky souls were struck, howling in agony.

"Bingfeng, take five of the uncles over there and strike back. You don't need to kill them, just force them down. I'll watch things here!" Zhao Jin shouted.

His words had barely faded when suddenly, from another direction, someone else yelled, "Enemy over here!" This time the voice came from the north. "I'm on it!" Ji Xiang shouted from below.

"The bandit cavalry is charging — coming down... down the side lane!" Someone on the west side also raised the alarm. "I'm on it!" This time it was Shi Manqiang who shouted.

Inside the He family compound, the squads of Zhao's Camp had begun to stir restlessly. The trench-filling outside, the scattered archery — all of that had only come from one direction. Now, suddenly, alarms were raised from three directions at once. Had the enemy begun a full assault?

The veteran squad held steady. Bound by discipline, they knew the punishment for breaking it. Their breathing grew heavier, and they glanced left and right, but that was all. The recruit squad, however, was already showing signs of disorder. The household troops muttered among themselves, and the courtyard, quiet just moments before, began to grow noisy.

The morale and courage stirred up by the earlier shouting had been nearly worn away by the probing attacks and the trench-filling. Now, with fires seemingly lit on all sides, the fear and tension in their hearts ignited.

"All of you, shut your damn mouths!" Zhao Jin roared from the watchtower.

"What the hell are you afraid of? The other three sides are just harassment — meant to make you panic! If it comes to deciding who wins and who loses, it'll be right here, and it'll be decided by cold steel. What the hell are you afraid of!"

Jolted by that thunderous roar, and seeing Zhao Jin up in the watchtower, now turned to face them, the courtyard fell silent again.

"Any who clamor — executed! Any who move without order — executed! Any who disobey commands — executed! Chen Sheng, you will carry out the punishments..."

"The enemy's main force is moving!"

Before those words had even faded, someone on the wooden platform inside the wall shouted. Zhao Jin spun around and saw the enemy's main force beginning to advance. The frontmost row all held door planks aloft, stretching across a length of several dozen paces. It looked like a wooden wall slowly pushing forward.

"The archers on the south side have been driven off!" "The harassers are just yelling from far away — they don't dare come close!" "The cavalry wheeled around and pulled back!" From the other three sides, people shouted out reports.